USA Tops Canada to Reach NORCECA Men's Gold Medal Match

 

ANAHEIM, California, September 20, 2007.- The USA Men's National Team made good on several late set rallies to defeat Canada 32-30, 19-25, 25-19, 26-24 in the semi finals of the NORCECA Men's Continental Championship on Thursday evening to reach the gold-medal match against Puerto Rico set for Friday.

 

Meanwhile, Canada will play Cuba for third place preceding the NORCECA championship match.

 

Reid Priddy paced five USA scorers in double figures with 18 points. Clay Stanley and Ryan Millar each totalled 15 points, and Riley Salmon and Gabe Gardner contributed 10 points apiece.

 

Canada's Dallas Soonias led all scorers in the match with 24 points. Fred Winters charted 14 points and Murray Grapentine contributed 10 Canadian points.

 

The USA is the two-time defending NORCECA champions and has reached the title match the last eight times of the bi-annual event. Overall, Team USA has won the title six times (1973, 1983, 1985, 1999, 2003, 2005) and earned silver eight times. Puerto Rico has never won a medal at the NORCECA event, let alone reaching the title match.